Two years ago, he moved to the RMJM bureau, known in Russia primarily for the Okhta- and Lakhta-Centers projects in St. Petersburg. Then it came as a surprise to the architectural community, because Alsop had previously convinced everyone that he was going to quit his architectural career and take up painting.
A few years earlier, he first ruined his own workshop, and then the successful SMC Group (Archial), where Will Alsop began working under the guise of SMC Alsop, also found itself on the verge of bankruptcy (although this was unlikely to be related to the architect himself). The jokers noticed that now they should expect financial difficulties for RMJM.
And they, indeed, were not long in coming: in a huge architectural firm, problems with paying salaries began, which caused a real riot in its Hong Kong office, many representatives of the management team left it, significant external cash infusions were required from its owners … Relations with Alsop too were not cloudless: in November 2010, more than a year after his arrival at the bureau, it became known that he had not yet attracted a single customer there (although the directors of RMJM undoubtedly counted on the opposite, hoping for his "star" status).
In March 2011, the first rumors about Alsop's departure appeared, which he actively denied until last June. But trusting him again was not worth it - now the architect announced the opening of a workshop together with another leading architect of RMJM, Scott Lawrie. They plan to create a center for architecture, design (interiors, landscape, industrial, graphic) and art, engage not only in designing, but also in experiments, and attract representatives of various creative professions to cooperation. According to them, they hoped to work in this way on the basis of RMJM, but did not find understanding from the management. At the same time, they will remain in the premises of the London branch of this workshop, and the architects RMJM will now have to move out from there.
How long Alsop's new bureau and his tandem with Laurie will last is anyone's guess. We can be sure of only one thing: whatever the next changes in the life and career of Will Alsop, we learn about them suddenly.
N. F.
